Michigan Harness Horsemen's Association

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Be the Voice! Join Us December 9 for MHHA Legislative Day in Lansing

Join us in Lansing on Tuesday, December 9, 2025 for MHHA Legislative Day, an important opportunity to meet with legislators, share your experiences, and help get our key bills across the finish line.

Your voice matters, and legislators need to hear directly from YOU, the people who live and work every day in Michigan’s harness horse industry. Together, we can ensure our priorities are heard loud and clear at the Capitol.

Meeting Location:

Kelley Cawthorne – Capitol Room

208 N. Capitol Ave, Third Floor

Lansing, MI 48933

Agenda:

8:30–9:00 AM – Registration & Lite Breakfast at Kelley Cawthorne

9:00–9:15 AM – Welcome

9:15–9:30 AM – Advocacy 101 & Logistics – Dave Ladd

9:30–10:30 AM – Meetings with legislators

10:30–11:00 AM – Group Meeting with Representative Ken Borton

11:00 AM–12:00 PM – Meetings with legislators

12:00–1:00 PM – Lunch at Kelley Cawthorne

1:00–3:30 PM – Meetings with legislators

3:30–5:00 PM – Fundraiser with Representative Tom Kunse

🚨 Legislative Action Center

Support Michigan Fairs, Family Farms & Horse Racing

📢 What You Can Do:

Please contact your State Representative and Senator today and ask them to support:

👉 House Bills 4346, 4347, 4348

📌 Find Your Legislators:

✉️ Sample Email to Legislators

Subject: Please Support HB4346, HB4347 & HB4348

Dear Michigan State Legislators,

Thank you for the opportunity to present three bills that will secure, sustain, and propel Michigan’s 86 historical county fairs, support hundreds of family businesses, and protect over 4,000 Michigan jobs.*

HB4348 is especially time-sensitive, as it authorizes existing funds for use at county fairs this summer. These funds will create increased revenues and opportunities for many Michigan fairs and racing families in 2025.

HB4347 guarantees a minimum of $5,000 per fair, funds key safety initiatives, and brings vital support to the $354 million Michigan horse racing and breeding industry.

HB4346 reestablishes a crucial partnership between horse racing and Michigan’s county fairs, supporting both fairground infrastructure and the 4,000 jobs connected to our industry.*

*Based on 2024 USTA Economic Impact Study data.

Please support these bills and help protect Michigan’s proud agricultural and equine heritage.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address or County]
[Optional: Business or Farm Name]

📣 Contact Rep. Jerry Neyer (Ag Committee Chair)

The Honorable Jerry Neyer
📧 Email: JerryNeyer@house.mi.gov
📞 Phone: 517-373-2646

✉️ Letter to Rep. Neyer

To the Honorable Jerry Neyer,

Thank you for the opportunity to request a swift committee for the above mentioned Bills. The Michigan Harness Horsemen's Association has been working actively with the Michigan Association of Fairs on some solutions to assist our historic Michigan Fairs and our horsemen. Today our package of Bills was introduced and I write you tonight to ask for your sincere consideration of a swift committee for our package of Bills please.

The reason for my request is that HB4348 provides critical funding to many Michigan Fairs and our horsemen this summer and the fair season starts on June 17th, 2025. Please note that this request involves existing funds from our Ag. Equine Industry Fund and we simply need authority to spend them. I know the legislative process is often slow but because of the positive impacts on many fairs and Michigan family businesses I humbly ask for these bills to be considered quickly.

The package helps 22 Michigan fairs this summer and secures over 4,000 Michigan jobs associated with horse racing and breeding industry in Michigan. This package of bills will advance our industry, create significant revenues and opportunities for every Michigan fair and advances the historical partnership of horse racing and fairs. Our requests and package of Bills has been enthusiastically supported by many members of the House—16 cosponsors have joined our effort and many more legislators have indicated their enthusiastic support.

I ask for your sincere consideration.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address or County]
[Optional: Business or Farm Name]